After Touring 30 International Film Festivals, Crocodile Tears Set for Cinema Release in May 2026
After an extensive journey through more than 30 international film festivals, the feature film debut of director Tumpal Tampubolon, Crocodile Tears, is scheduled to reach Indonesian audiences beginning 7 May 2026.
The film carries distinguished credentials before its return to the homeland. Since its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2024, Crocodile Tears has screened at prestigious venues including the BFI London Film Festival, Adelaide Film Festival, and Turin Film Festival.
On the regional stage, the film received the Direction Award and Nongshim Award at Jakarta Film Week 2025, and took home the Best Screenplay award at the Asian Film Festival Barcelona 2025.
Born from the vision of Tumpal Tampubolon, the story emerged organically after he witnessed a wildlife documentary. Tampubolon recounted being moved and frightened by the way crocodiles protect their offspring.
“The nature documentary showed a female crocodile placing her babies inside her jaws. There was something terrifying yet tender in that crocodile’s action,” said Tampubolon.
The image of the mother crocodile clamping her young between rows of sharp teeth to protect them from predators serves as the central metaphor in the film. Tampubolon attempts to explore the dark side of excessive affection.
“How something born from love can transform into a burden, and why relationships meant to protect can feel suffocating,” he added.
Produced by Mandy Marahimin with support from Indonesia’s Ministry of Culture, Crocodile Tears focuses on the relationship dynamics between Johan (Yusuf Mahardika) and his mother (Marissa Anita). The two live in a dilapidated and isolated crocodile farm.
Johan’s life, spent for years under his mother’s strict surveillance, begins to falter when he meets Arumi (Zulfa Maharani). Mama’s disapproval of Arumi’s presence triggers strange and oppressive changes in attitude.
The film promises a unique blend of magical realism and profound psychological terror.
Though this is his feature film debut, Tumpal Tampubolon is not new to the film industry. He began his career with the short screenplay The Last Believer, which won at JiFFest 2005. Since then, he has actively participated in various international development programmes including the Berlinale Talent Campus and Asian Film Academy.
Before Crocodile Tears, Tampubolon achieved significant success with the short film The Sea Calls Me, which won the Sonje Award at Busan International Film Festival 2021 and was named Best Short Story Film at the Indonesian Film Festival (FFI) 2021.